Women in Saudi Arabia finally permitted to drive after a decades-old ban

In Saudi Arabia, women are finally permitted to drive after a decades-old ban expired at midnight Saturday. The conservative kingdom was the only country left in the world where women were prohibited from driving, a restriction that resulted in some families having to hire chauffeurs for female relatives.

The decision to lift the ban was taken last September and Saudi Arabia began issuing the first licenses to women earlier this month. Thousands of women are expected to take the opportunity to change their lives.